Movie to tell story of monk who built Ave Maria Grotto

Tuesday

Apr 30, 2013 at 12:01 AM

BIRMINGHAM | A filmmaker is set to tell the story of Joseph Zoettl, the Bavarian monk who built the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman.

The Associated Press

BIRMINGHAM | A filmmaker is set to tell the story of Joseph Zoettl, the Bavarian monk who built the Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman. “Brother Joseph and the Grotto,” written and directed by Cliff Vaugh of Nashville-based Red Clay Pictures, is slated to be released this fall. Zoettl used stones, cement, marbles and other material to create a replica of Jerusalem, Rome and other biblical scenes at the Saint Bernard Abbey in Cullman. The grotto was dedicated in 1934 and a life-size statue of the hunchbacked, German monk was dedicated at the site in 2009. The film is Zoettl's true fairy tale involving folk art, state history and a life of devotion, Vaughn told the Birmingham News. “Closer scrutiny of Brother Joseph's life and work has revealed a beautiful story — one whose new details only enhance the mystery in the abbey woods off I-65,” Vaughn said. “We believe viewers will be as captivated by the magic and majesty of this single life, in service to God and others, as we have.”The filmmaker says he got the idea to make the documentary from the song “Ave Maria Grotto,” by singer-songwriter Kate Campbell. Vaughn began research for the documentary in 2011 and found an unpublished manuscript at the abbey as well as Zoettl's personal album of more than 300 postcards to relatives and friends in Germany. Zoettl helped build Saint Bernard Abbey, but was not allowed to become a priest-monk because he was hunchbacked. He was allowed to stay at the monastery as a brother, and was sent to cook and clean at other parishes in the South. Writings by Saint Therese of Lisieux saying she wanted to serve God in a “little way” inspired Zoettl. He made miniature buildings out of concrete and recycled materials and was eventually asked to build the grotto in the abbey's old quarry. He spent 25 years making miniatures, and died in October 1961.